The Good Book Club has offered the following resource for all stages and styles of "families". Each week on Friday a new meditation geered to a variety of individuals from young child and parent to adult and adult will be offered here through the season of Lent and Easter.

​February and March for Children and Families

Pretzel Making Sunday Feb. 11th

activities during class timeMaking Pretzels ~ Service of Tears (to begin Lent) (Our pretzels will be for coffee hour)

Please note that our "For the Home" resource table will have items for the Lenten season beginning Feb. 14th. Please take a look and take them home to use!(Also take a look at Faith @ Home tab for additional resources) _________________________________________________________________________

Ash Wednesday Feb. 14th ~ 6:00 PM Join us for a Child/Family Friendly ServiceHelp us burn the palms from lastPalm Sunday to create the ashes for thisAsh Wednesday services.

AND​ Help us bury the Alleluia for Lent also during our​Ash Wednesday Family Service

​PAGEANT AND HOUSE BLESSING ON SUNDAY JANUARY 7TH​INFORMATION BELOW

Experiencing Lent with ChildrenAn excellent article about how important it is for our children to be a part of ALL our worship experiences and learn our stories of Lent with us.

Join us for our Epiphany Pageant Sunday, Jan. 7th​during the 10:00AM service

ALL children are welcome to participate in our pageant

Dress Rehearsal Sat. Jan. 6th, 9:00-11:00AM

EPIPHANY HOUSE BLESSING

We invite you to adopt this custom in your family. Gather to ask God’s blessing on your home and on those who live in or visit your home. It is an invitation for Jesus to be a daily guest in our home, our comings and goings, our conversations, our work and play, our joys and sorrows

ST. JOHN'S WILL BE BLESSING CHALK AND PASSING OUT HOUSE BLESSINGS KITS ON JAN 8TH.

Instructions for Blessing the Home Using the blessed chalk enclosed in our packets to given out on Jan. 8th mark the lintel of your front door (or front porch step) as follows:20 + C + M + B + 18while saying:The three Wise Men, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar followed the star of God’s Son who became human two thousand and fifteen years ago. May Christ bless our home and remain with us throughout the new year. Amen. Then offer the following prayer:Visit, O blessed Lord, this home with the gladness of your presence. Bless all who live or visit here with the gift of your love; and grant that we may show your love to each other and to all whose lives we touch. May we grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of you; guide, comfort, and strengthen us in peace, O Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen “Chalking the door”is a way to celebrate and literally mark the occasion of the Epiphany and God’s blessing of our lives and home. With time the chalk will fade. As it does we let the meaning of the symbols written sink into the depths of our heart and be manifest in our words and actions the Latin words, Christus mansionem benedictat, “May Christ bless the house.”

Summer Offerings from St. John's ParishFamilies are traveling many weekends during the summer along with summer vacations and activities making it hard to always worship with us here at St. John's. Here are some offerings to keep us connected with your friends here and with your faith during the summer months.

Print off "Flat Jesus" below, and take him with you wherever you go! Snap a picture and post on St. John's Facebook page so all your friends can see your "Travels with Jesus"!

Download the "bible for kids" app. to your phone. There are many of our favorite Bible stories along with games and activities.

Good FridayFriday April 14th- Traditional Noonday service and 7:00PM service.

Online Stations of the Cross for families:https://vimeo.com/39437796​

Easter Sunday, April 16thTraditional Festive Celebrations @ 8:00AM and 10:00 AM Childcare at 10:00AMHelp us “Flower the Cross” by bringing artificial flowers to place on the cross!

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November, December, and Early January

STONE SOUP SUNDAY NOV. 13th SEE PHOTOS BELOW……...St. John's children will be making our annual Stone Soup for coffee hour and hearing the story of The Feeding of the 5,000.​This is the first of three special events for children, youth, families and adults of St. John’s coming up in the next two months. Below are just a few notes on the additional events.

Advent and Christmas are truly a time for us to reach out to our family, friends, and the stranger among us. Our hope is that you and your family members will join us in community for any or all of these events, reminding us as we await and then celebrate His birth that Christ did not spend his life alone but, in community with his family, friends, and those in need around Him.Linda L. Snyder, Christian Formation

Dec. 4th, Advent II-,St. Nicolas of Myra Day.What a special day for our children! SEE THE PHOTOS BELOW…….Join us to hear the story of the realy St. Nicholas and participate in activities around his message of love and caring.

EPIPHANY PAGEANT SUNDAY JANUARY 8TH DURING THE 10:00AM SERVICE. REHEARSAL SAT. JAN. 7TH 9:30AM-11:00AM. ALL CHILDREN ARE WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE. EMAIL LINDA SNYDER: llsnyders4@charter.net for more information

Godly Play Begins

Join us as we begin Godly Play on Sunday Sept. 11th

Registration forms are available for our Godly Play class and our nursery here, in the "forms" section. Please print and form and bring it with you on​Sept. 11th.

The Story doesn't end with Christ's Resurrection at Easter! Come and hear the stories of the Resurrected Christ, The Holy Spirit, Pentecost, and the spreading of the Christ's teaching throughout the World!

Below is an article written by a parent of two girls about why they go to an ​Ash Wednesday service

Ash Wednesday Feb. 10, 2016Child/Family Friendly Service 6:00PMJoin us as we burn the palms from last Palm Sunday to create the ashes for this Ash Wednesday!

Burying the Alleluia​At the end of making Pretzels (below) we will decorate our Alleluia for the Ash Wednesday service. At the Ash Wednesday service we willl also bury the Alleluia for Lent which we will open on Easter.

St. Nicholas Day Celebration2014

EPIPHANY PAGEANTSUNDAY JAN. 10TH (during the 10:00AM Service) All Children are welcome to participate….there are parts for ALL!Dress Rehearsal Sat. Jan. 9th9:00-10:30 AMParts will be handed out at rehearsal. (Narrators can get their parts on Sunday the 3rd if you are going to be in church).

On Saturday, January 2nd9:00 am,We will be having a craft session to make some of the pageant props. If your child enjoys painting, gluing and glittering, come join us in Sheffield Hall (basement).​

If you have any questions, please contact Diane Hayes at 860-379-7612 or 860-309-3077. or Contact: Linda Snyderllsnyders4@charter.netOr call 860-485-2545 evenings

Backpack Blessing for a new school year Sunday, Sept. 6th during our 10:00AM service All children and youth bring your backpacks with you this Sunday!

HomecomingSave the Date Sunday, Sept. 13join us as we begin Godly Play andCommission our Godly Play and Youth Leaders andRededicate our Parents and Congregation

Resources for Parents in Response to the Charleston TragedyThe National Association of Christian Formation Specialist has offered a resource listing information about Black History to be used by adults working with children and parents. Since we are all out of classes and school I pass this on to any parents who might want to discuss this with their youth or older children. There is also a bibliography of books for all ages (including young children). Again this is a resource for adults to delve into and find what is appropriate in your particular enviroment.

April 26th

All children and youth grades4-8th (close to this age/grade join us were not checking) Giant Jenga TournamentSaturday April 26th for Pizza and Nuggets (Chicken) LunchandGiant Jengaemail or call office to sign up

MOTHER COSMAN'S PSALM CHALLENGE April 26th

The Fourth Sunday of Easter, the lections appointed for the day include Psalm 23. All youth able to recite from memory the 23rd Psalm to Mother Cosman during coffee hour will be given a reward. Sign up in the parish hall and start practicing!

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.He makes me lie down in green pastures;he leads me beside still waters;he restores my soul.He leads me in right pathsfor his name’s sake.Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I fear no evil; for you are with me;your rod and your staff —they comfort me.You prepare a table before mein the presence of my enemies;you anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows.Surely goodness and mercy shall follow meall the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lordmy whole life long.

JOIN US FOR HOLY WEEKPalm Sunday March 29thBlessing of the Palms and procession of the palms with childrenAll Children please arrive by 9:50 and meet in the vestible (entryway) of the church. Children will be given blessed palms to distribute to the congregation during the procession. Then we will go to our Godly Play room to hear the stories of Holy Week

Maundy Thursday6:00PM Soup SupperAll are Welcome7:00PM Eucharist withfoot washing and stripping of the altarAll are welcome for supper and Eucharist

Ash Wednesday Feb. 18, 2015 Child/Family Friendly Service 6:00PMJoin us as we burn the palms from last Palm Sunday to create the ashes for this Ash Wednesday!

AND We hide the “ALLELUIA” for Easter ALL ARE WELCOME TO JOIN IN !

Pretzel MakingSunday Feb. 22nd (rescheduled from the 15th) during class time.(Our pretzels will be for coffee hour)activities: making pretzels, learning the history of the pretzels and offering our talents for coffee hour.

STONE SOUP SUNDAY2014

Pretzel Making Sunday Feb. 7TH during class time (Our pretzels will be for coffee hour)activities: making pretzels, learning the history of the pretzels and offering our talents for coffee hour.